Home
Focus Areas
About Us
Funding for Youth Development
Positive Experiences + Positive Relationships + Positive Environments = Positive Youth Development
PYD is an intentional, prosocial approach that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive; recognizes, utilizes, and enhances young people's strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their leadership strengths.
The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs developed a research agenda focused on positive youth development. Through a collaborative consensus-building process, representatives from federal agencies identified three research domains (conceptual issues, data sources and indicators, and program implementation and effectiveness) and key research questions that could benefit from future research.
PYD has its origins in the field of prevention. In the past, prevention efforts typically focused on single problems before they surfaced in youth, such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and juvenile delinquency.
Over time, practitioners, policymakers, funders, and researchers determined that promoting positive asset building and considering young people as resources were critical strategies. As a result, the youth development field began examining the role of resiliency - the protective factors in a young person's environment - and how these factors could influence one's ability to overcome adversity. Those factors included, but were not limited to, family support and monitoring; caring adults; positive peer groups; strong sense of self, self-esteem, and future aspirations; and engagement in school and community activities.
Researchers and practitioners began to report that young people who possess a diverse set of protective factors can, in fact, experience more positive outcomes. These findings encouraged the development of interventions and programs that reduce risks and strengthen protective factors. The programs and interventions are strengthened when they involve and engage youth as equal partners, ultimately providing benefits for both for the program and the involved youth.
Source: youth.gov
Foundation and philanthropic support for youth development from around the Web.
Velazquez Aims to Recognize National Young Audiences Arts for Learning Week.Velazquez introduced a House resolution in support for the designation of April 13 26.The resolution highlights the...more
Orondaam Otto is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and Founder of Slum2School Africa.He has been named to the prestigious Young Global Leaders Class of 2025 by the World Economic Forum.Otto's influence...more
Foundation: Grand Haven Area Community Foundation
Brooke Oosterman, executive director of Housing Next, is wrapping up three years at the organization this week.She accepted the position of vice president of youth development for the YMCA of Greater...more
Foundation: Arkansas Community Foundation
Proposals will be accepted online now through Tuesday, April 1.These awards have included support for mental health support groups, financial literacy workshops, and other initiatives that empower...more
The Ian Legaree Youth Leadership Fund will serve as a scholarship fund designed to recognize and pass on Ian's many contributions to youth development and sports in the NWT.Ian was a long-time coach...more
Foundation: Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, Fayette County Community Foundation
Fayette County Community Foundation recently awarded over $176,000 to 23 Fayette County organizations and nonprofits for the betterment of their communities.Grants are awarded through...more
A Look Back at How the Lewis Prize for Music Empowered Young People.The five-year, $20 million initiative committed to driving equitable systems change.The prize granted $2 million to 32 creative...more
A Look Back at How the Lewis Prize for Music Empowered Young People.The five-year, $20 million initiative committed to driving equitable systems change.The prize granted $2 million to 32 creative...more
Salem, Peabody Schools Awarded Mass Cultural Council Grants.The program awards one-year grants of $5,000 each to fund school-based creative projects for K-12.The Creative Youth Development program...more
UF's 4-H Youth Development Program is getting kids statewide in space-based careers.The event, planned for June, will train 60 teens as "space ambassadors" to teach another 1,200 youth about space...more
Moved Permanently
The document has moved here.
Social Enterprise Network Sites
Youth News from...
Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Manatee Community Foundation
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Delaware Community Foundation
Kern Community Foundation
Key Biscayne Community Foundation
American Savings Foundation
Huron County Community Foundation
Becton, Dickinson and Company
Changemakers
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
When it Comes to Social Enterprises, Failure is the Best Platform for Innovation
In the world of social enterprises, failure is a cringe-worthy moment nobody wants to talk about. But, social entrepreneurs can benefit from their failures.
